How Deep is the Annuity Market Participation Puzzle?

58 Pages Posted: 14 Nov 2010

See all articles by Joachim Inkmann

Joachim Inkmann

University of Melbourne - Department of Finance

Paula Lopes

Financial Markets Group, LSE

Alexander Michaelides

Imperial College Business School; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 1, 2010

Abstract

Using U.K. microeconomic data, we analyze the empirical determinants of voluntary annuity market demand. We find that annuity market participation increases with financial wealth, life expectancy and education and decreases with other pension income and a possible bequest motive for surviving spouses. We then show that these empirically motivated determinants of annuity market participation have the same, quantitatively important, effects in a life-cycle model of annuity and life insurance demand, saving and portfolio choice. Moreover, reasonable preference parameters predict annuity demand levels comparable to the data. For stockholders, a strong bequest motive can simultaneously generate balanced portfolios and low annuity demand.

Keywords: Annuities, Portfolio Choice, Life Insurance, Bequest Motive

JEL Classification: E21, G11, H00

Suggested Citation

Inkmann, Joachim and Lopes, Paula and Michaelides, Alexander, How Deep is the Annuity Market Participation Puzzle? (July 1, 2010). Netspar Discussion Paper No. 07/2010-039, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1708027 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1708027

Joachim Inkmann (Contact Author)

University of Melbourne - Department of Finance ( email )

Level 12, 198 Berkeley Street
University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010
Australia
0061 3 9035 8177 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5526-7648

Paula Lopes

Financial Markets Group, LSE ( email )

Houghton Street
London WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

Alexander Michaelides

Imperial College Business School ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2AZ, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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